Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Newhook's OT Winner Sends Canadiens Past Sabres in Game 7, Into Eastern Final
Alex Newhook scored at 11:22 of overtime to lift the Montreal Canadiens past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Monday at KeyBank Center. Newhook took a cross-ice pass from Alexandre Carrier and beat goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a low wrist shot from the left circle. The goal was his second series-clinching overtime winner this postseason, making him only the second player in NHL history to do so in one playoff year, alongside Nathan Horton of the 2011 Bruins. Jakub Dobes made 25 saves for Montreal, which now faces the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final beginning Thursday in Raleigh.
Sources: NHL.com
Carolina Hurricanes Enter Conference Finals at Historic 8-0, First Since 1985 Oilers
The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Second Round to improve to 8-0 this postseason, becoming the fifth team in NHL history to begin a playoffs 8-0 and the first since the 1985 Edmonton Oilers started 9-0. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been exceptional, posting a 1.12 goals-against average and .950 save percentage across eight games, with two shutouts. Carolina has surrendered just 10 goals in two rounds, and its penalty kill converted at a 95.0% rate. The Hurricanes enter the Eastern Conference Final with 11 days of rest, holding home-ice advantage over the Canadiens despite going 0-3-0 against them in the regular season.
Sources: NHL.com
Eastern Conference Final Set: Canadiens at Hurricanes in Game 1 Thursday in Raleigh
With Alex Newhook's overtime goal completing Montreal's Game 7 win on Monday, the Eastern Conference Final matchup is confirmed: the Carolina Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 on Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET in Raleigh. Carolina enters as the No. 1 seed in the Metropolitan Division with an 8-0 postseason record, while Montreal advances as the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic after surviving back-to-back Game 7s against Tampa Bay and Buffalo. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each have three goals and two assists for Montreal, while Carolina's Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes with six postseason points.
Sources: NHL.com
Avalanche Host Golden Knights in Game 1 Wednesday as Western Conference Final Opens
The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights meet in the Western Conference Final starting Wednesday, May 20 at Ball Arena in Denver. Colorado, the top Western Conference seed, went 8-1 through two rounds against Los Angeles and Minnesota, led by Nathan MacKinnon with seven goals and six assists. Vegas arrives led by Mitch Marner, who paces all NHL playoff scorers with 18 points in 12 games after dispatching Utah and Anaheim in six games apiece. The Avalanche have averaged 4.11 goals per game this postseason and are favored at -260 to advance. Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski remain day-to-day with upper-body injuries heading into the series.
Sources: NHL.com
Marner Leads All NHL Playoff Scorers with 18 Points, Aims for First Conference Final Win
Mitch Marner is having the postseason of his career with the Vegas Golden Knights after nine playoff runs in Toronto that produced just two series wins. Marner leads all NHL playoff scorers with 18 points — seven goals and 11 assists — in 12 games, surpassing his previous career playoff best of 14 points in 11 games. He co-leads the league in game-winning goals (two) and shorthanded points (four). His natural hat trick and four-point game against Anaheim in Game 3 of the second round was the postseason's most dominant single-game offensive performance to date. Vegas dispatched Utah and Anaheim each in six games to reach the Western Conference Final.
Sources: NHL.com
Makar Day-to-Day, Lehkonen and Malinski Questionable as Avalanche Enter Western Final
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is listed as day-to-day with a suspected separated shoulder but is expected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday against Vegas. Coach Jared Bednar delivered encouraging words on Makar's status Monday, though the blueliner has been visibly battling through the injury all postseason. Forwards Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski, who each missed the final two games against Minnesota with upper-body injuries, are also day-to-day. Defenseman Josh Manson returned in Game 4 after missing four games. Colorado faces a Vegas team with Mitch Marner leading all NHL scorers with 18 postseason points as its offensive catalyst.
Sources: Mile High Sticking
Unbeaten Finland Routs Defending Champion USA 6-2 at 2026 IIHF World Championship
Finland improved to 3-0 at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland, defeating the defending champion United States 6-2 on Monday in Group A play at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich. Lenni Hameenaho led the Finnish attack with two goals and an assist, while Patrik Puistola, Aatu Raty, Saku Maenalanen, and Anton Lundell also scored. The United States, who won the 2025 World Championship title in Stockholm before claiming Olympic gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, fell to 1-2 in Group A. The preliminary round runs through May 26 before the medal-round playoffs begin May 28.
Sources: IIHF.com
Stanley Cup Playoffs — Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
CONFERENCE FINALS
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens — Game 1 Thu. May 21
SECOND ROUND (COMPLETE)
Carolina def. Philadelphia 4–0
Montreal def. Buffalo 4–3 (OT, G7)
FIRST ROUND (COMPLETE)
Carolina def. Ottawa 4–0
Philadelphia def. Pittsburgh 4–2
Montreal def. Tampa Bay 4–3
Buffalo def. Boston 4–2
Western Conference
CONFERENCE FINALS
Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights — Game 1 Wed. May 20
SECOND ROUND (COMPLETE)
Colorado def. Minnesota 4–1
Vegas def. Anaheim 4–2
FIRST ROUND (COMPLETE)
Colorado def. Los Angeles 4–0
Minnesota def. Dallas 4–2
Vegas def. Utah 4–2
Anaheim def. Edmonton 4–2
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